Search

List

Options

Summary of Treaty

GENERAL DATA

Official Title

Exchanges of Letters recording the common understanding on the principles of international cooperation on research and development activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems between the European Community and the United States of America, Japan, Australia, Canada and the EFTA countries of Norway and Switzerland

Type of Agreement

Multilateral

Usual Title

IMS Agreement

Place of Signature

Brussels, Tokyo, Canberra, Toronto, Oslo, Berne

Date of Signature

01/04/1997

Date of Entry Into Force

01/04/1997

Duration

Definite

Objective of Agreement

To develop international cooperation on intelligent manufacturing systems (IMS) between the EC, the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, and the EFTA countries Norway and Switzerland.

Remarks

Exchanges of letters between the EC and other participating regions of the IMS project (Japan, Australia, Canada, USA, Switzerland, Norway) to record the agreement reached.
IMS is an industry-led, international research and development (R&D) program established to develop the next generation of manufacturing and processing technologies.
Companies and research institutions from Australia, Canada, the European Union and Norway, Japan, Korea, Switzerland, and the United States of America participate in this program. Other regions are encouraged to join.
The Intelligent Manufacturing Systems Initiative assists and encourages the formation of international research consortia to address industrial manufacturing and organisational challenges in the 21st century.
IMS provides a framework for industry and academia to co-operate throughout the full innovation cycle, to identify partners world-wide. It offers broad-based technology trials and benchmarking, involving a world-wide user community, ensuring general applicability of the technology developed and providing a better understanding of global markets through improved market intelligence. IMS offers a proven, effective and efficient framework for the protection of IPR which provides in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises a safe environment in global collaboration.
IMS is supported in Europe through the 7th Framework Programme for Research.
The relevant Thematic Priorities are Information Society Technologies (IST or 'Priority 2') and Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences, Knowledge-based Multifunctional Materials and New Production Processes and Devices (NMP or 'Priority 3).
IMS has successfully finished its first 10-year phase. Several IMS regions have already signed up for IMS Phase 2 (starting 1 May 2005). The regions currently involved are Australia, Japan, Korea, Switzerland and the USA.
Annex to the exchange of letters: Terms of reference for a programme of international cooperation in advanced manufacturing. The Terms of reference is the constitutive document of the IMS as an international organisation. It includes the

Council Decision of 27 January 1997 concerning the conclusion on behalf of the European Community of an Exchange of Letters recording the common understanding on the principles of international cooperation on research and development activities in the domain of intelligent manufacturing systems between the European Community and the United States of America, Japan, Australia, Canada and the EFTA countries of Norway and Switzerland; OJ L161 of 18/06/1997, p.1